The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has officially nominated Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as its candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The announcement positions Rathore as the party’s leading choice to form the next government in the region.
Faisal Mumtaz Rathore is currently a Member of the AJK Legislative Assembly. He also serves as Secretary General of PPP AJK, a role he has held since 2017. Born on April 11, 1978, in Rawalpindi, he has been active in politics for over two decades.
Rathore comes from a notable political family with deep roots in AJK’s power structure. His father previously served as prime minister, speaker, opposition leader, and senior minister. Party leaders say this legacy gives Rathore rare insight into regional politics and governance.
He belongs to a household counted among the founding families of PPP in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This background provides him with strong institutional memory of the Kashmir cause, as well as the political dynamics between Pakistan and AJK.
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Rathore has been elected multiple times to the AJK Legislative Assembly, reflecting strong public acceptance. His executive experience includes serving as Minister for Electricity and Minister for Local Government & Rural Development. Officials say these roles helped him develop hands-on skills in administration, service delivery, and development planning.
He has also spent time on the opposition benches. Party leaders believe this balance of government and opposition experience strengthens his understanding of policymaking and accountability.
PPP’s central leadership, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur, hold high confidence in him. They view him as a representative of the party’s ideological and middle-class base. Rathore is known for a calm and conciliatory style, which has earned him respect across political, public, and institutional circles.
The government recently appointed him as the head of the negotiating committee for talks with the Awami Action Committee, indicating trust in his conflict-resolution skills. His experience in national media, including hosting a programme on Bol TV, has strengthened his communication abilities.
